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A-Rod will skip camp as he rehabs in New York

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Girardi wants A-Rod healthy 3:26

Yankees manager Joe Girardi discusses Alex Rodriguez's rehab in New York City and how the team has to deal with distractions

By Bryan Hoch

TAMPA, Fla. -- Alex Rodriguez will not report to Spring Training with the Yankees' position players, because the club advised him to stay in New York to continue rehabilitation on his surgically repaired left hip.

Manager Joe Girardi said on Tuesday that he does not know if or when Rodriguez will join his teammates this spring. Rodriguez had surgery on Jan. 16 and is not expected to return to big league action until after the All-Star break.

"He's not really ready to do anything with us yet from a baseball standpoint, so he'll continue his rehab under a doctor's order in New York, and that's what he's been doing," Girardi said.

Girardi said that Major League Baseball's ongoing investigation into the Biogenesis clinic in Coral Gables, Fla., from which Rodriguez is alleged to have purchased performance-enhancing drugs, is not a factor in his absence.

"Him being in New York has nothing to do with trying to get rid of a distraction," Girardi said. "It's the best place for him to be."

In 2009, Rodriguez also missed a large portion of Spring Training after having surgery on his right hip. He was advised at the time to rehab in Vail, Colo., before joining the team. And New York-based physician Dr. Bryan Kelly has offered similar instructions for his latest rehab.

"I think Alex had somewhat of a special surgery. It's not a hamstring," Girardi said. "It's not something we've done a lot of. We feel, at this point, the best place for him to be is New York, rehabbing under the doctor's supervision.

"There will come a point where he's able to do more, and that will change. But at this point, I spoke to him last week and he was still barely on crutches. He was almost off them. There's not a lot that he can do here."

Another Yankees player involved in MLB's probe of Anthony Bosch and the Biogenesis clinic is catcher Francisco Cervelli, who said via Twitter that he did not buy illegal substances. Cervelli plans to discuss his involvement further on Wednesday.

Ace CC Sabathia said that he feels the team is up to the task of blocking out potential distractions.

"We've dealt with a lot around here since I've been here, and this is my fifth year," Sabathia said. "It's been a lot to deal with, but you learn to be a professional and go out and do your job."

Sabathia said that he liked the Yankees' move to bring third baseman Kevin Youkilis in on a one-year, $12 million contract, but Sabathia said the club will miss Rodriguez's presence on the field.

"Of course. He's one of the best players playing," Sabathia said. "Any time you have a guy like that out, you're going to miss him. Hopefully he can just get his rehab going and get back as soon as possible."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.